Complete schedule of Lok Sabha Elections 2019; check details here

Mumbai: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday announced that Lok Sabha elections will begin on April 11 and polling would be held over seven phases through May 19, followed by counting of all votes on May 23, on Sunday.

Counting of votes for all seven phases covering 543 Lok Sabha constituencies would take place on May 23, Arora said.

In 2014, when the BJP swept to power, the Lok Sabha elections were held across nine phases beginning April 7 and ending May 9. The counting of votes had taken place on May 16.

— The model code of conduct would come into immediate effect from today.

— 10 lakhs polling stations would be set up this time as against about nine lakhs in 2014.

— Nearly 90 crore voters would be eligible to vote for 543 Lok Sabha constituencies across the country.

— The ‘voter verifiable paper audit trail' (VVPAT) will be used in all polling stations this time. EVMs will also feature faces of candidates.

Lok Sabha Elections Schedule

— The first phase will be held on April 11, second on April 18, third on April 23 and fourth on April 29, fifth on May 6, sixth on May 12 and seventh phase on May 19.

— In the first phase, 91 constituencies will to go for polls, 97 constituencies in the second phase, 115 constituencies in the third, 71 in fourth phase, 51 in fifth phase, 59 in sixth and 59 in the seventh phase.

— Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal will see staggered Lok Sabha elections spread over all seven phases

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged fellow Indians to take active part in the General Elections.

"Guided by 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, NDA seeks your blessings again," Modi said in a series of tweets.

— Simultaneous state electionsAssembly polls in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal, Odisha and Sikkim will also be held simultaneously. However, elections for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly, which was dissolved after the ruling coalition between the BJP and the PDP fell apart, will not be held along with the Lok Sabha polls.

— NDA vs Opposition parties

The election will pit the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance against several opposition parties, including the Congress, the Left and regional forces who are continuing to work out a grand alliance to minimise a division of votes against Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led ruling combine.

While the NDA hopes to make history by coming back to power for a second full term, the Opposition wants to unseat the Modi government by raising questions on its performance on a host of issues, including economic growth, employment, corruption and social harmony.